African leaders sign pact forming worlds largest free trade area

African leaders sign pact forming worlds largest free trade area

President Uhuru Kenyatta joined 44 other African leaders on Wednesday in signing an agreement to establish a free trade area, the largest in the world.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) which has been categorised as bigger than the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is seen as vital to the continent’s economic development, head of the African Union Moussa Faki Mahamat said.

The move comes after two years of negotiations and is one of the AU’s flagship projects for greater African integration. However, the agreement will still have to be ratified at a national level, and is only due to come into force in 180 days.

The full list of countries which did not sign the agreement is not yet available, however Nigeria is a notable absentee after President Muhammadu Buhari pulled out of this week’s launch in Rwanda saying he needed more time for consultations at home.

Nigeria, one of Africa’s largest markets, hesitated after objections from business leaders and unions — a sign that getting the deal through scores of national parliaments may face several hurdles.

“Some countries have reservations and have not finalised their national consultations. But we shall have another summit in Mauritania in July where we expect countries with reservations to also sign,” said Albert Muchanga, the AU Commissioner for Trade and Industry.

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Uhuru kenyatta Nigeria Trade Africa Union Albert Muchanga Continental Free Trade Area intra-Africa trade markets

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